Latest news with #AndrewRosindell
Telegraph
26-05-2025
- Politics
- Telegraph
Romford MP demands independence from Sadiq Khan's Ulez London
A major part of east London should be allowed to declare independence from Sadiq Khan and re-join Essex, an MP has said. Andrew Rosindell is campaigning for the area around Romford, which was forced into Greater London in 1965, to leave the capital and reassociate itself with the county of which it is a historic part. He said the borough of Havering, which also includes Hornchurch and Upminster, should be given the power to leave London as part of Angela Rayner's reorganisation of local government. The Deputy Prime Minister has said she wants to see the abolition of county and district councils and their replacement with unitary authorities covering populations of about 500,000 each. Mr Rosindell, the Conservative MP for Romford, obtained a Commons debate about his desire for Havering independence earlier this month. He said that under the Greater London Authority, headed up by Mr Khan, the mayor, his area does not see enough policemen and pays too much for free bus passes for pensioners. And he said its residents did not want to be part of the ultra-low emissions zone (Ulez) and opposed 'planning interference' from the London mayor. 'I believe that today we have a once-in-almost-a-century chance to look afresh at the old boundaries of Greater London that were constructed six decades ago,' he said. 'The entire region around our great United Kingdom capital of London has changed dramatically since those days.' He added: 'It could just be, much to the surprise of many of my constituents, that the new Labour Government's plan for devolution and local government reorganisation provides the opportunity we need to finally take control of our own affairs and have our future restored to becoming part of Essex local government structures once again.' 'We are historically Essex' He said Romford had been part of Essex since the kingdom was founded in the sixth century, and that its people felt part of Essex. 'Romford is geographically Essex,' he said. 'We are historically Essex. We are culturally Essex and our social, sporting and commercial connections have always looked towards the county of Essex. 'My constituents and I are proud of our Essex identity, which transcends local government or administrative boundaries that are forever changing – as they are again today.' The MP added: 'Ever since then, our Essex identity has tragically been diminished and even discarded by some, as if centuries of history in belonging to such a great English county could end simply because of local government reorganisation, which was lazy in its construction and took no account of our history. 'This has led to 60 years of muddle, confusion and constant debate about Romford and Havering remain part of Essex or not.'
The Independent
08-05-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
English voters face ‘democratic deficit' without devolved parliament
English voters who do not have a devolved national parliament face a 'democratic deficit', a Conservative MP has warned. Andrew Rosindell described himself as a 'strong supporter' of the UK Parliament in Westminster but told the Commons that English people suffer with a 'rather diminished democratic voice'. Unlike Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales, where some decisions are taken by lawmakers in Stormont, Holyrood and Cardiff Bay, England does not have a devolved national assembly. Mr Rosindell told MPs that after the devolution process in the late 1990s, 'for the first time in centuries, the unifying lynchpin of these islands – the crown in Parliament – seemed to have been wrenched out of place'.Speaking in a debate about English Affairs, the Conservative MP later added: 'What must in any case be acknowledged is that England, the most populous region with the biggest economy, is the only home nation not to have her own devolved parliament. 'This has created a democratic deficit in which the proud people of England, such as those in my constituency of Romford, Essex, are left with a rich cultural heritage, as I've outlined earlier, and without a fully developed but rather diminished democratic voice.' Father of the House Sir Edward Leigh, the Conservative MP for Gainsborough, urged Mr Rosindell to 'please spare us another parliament'. The Romford MP replied that he was a 'very strong supporter of this Parliament and of this United Kingdom', added he 'would have most certainly not voted to break up our United Kingdom in the way that we have done', and said he would 'love to see' the London Assembly abolished in the capital. Liberal Democrat Scotland spokeswoman Christine Jardine intervened and said: 'What we did was devolve some of the power closer to the people so that they felt more represented, not in an attempt to break up the country, but – as a member of the party who was instrumental with the Labour Party in achieving it – so that we held the country together but gave people the feeling of being closer to where decisions were made.' Mr Rosindell replied that he thought 'all members of Parliament should be equal and elected representatives should be equal, but if you make different types of elected representation at different levels, it obviously means that English MPs have a different role than Scottish MPs, because they have Members of the Scottish Parliament in Scotland, which have another role'. Labour MP Adam Jogee, who opened the debate, had earlier said: 'We must work to ensure that people across England, and indeed all those across the United Kingdom, continue to feel pride in our flag and in our communities, and feel hope for the future and respect for our past.' The Newcastle-under-Lyme MP added that 'any talk about love for flag and country must be matched by an investment in the people who make them what they are – investment in our national health service, in our education and employment support services, in our arts and culture, and in our villages, towns and cities'. Communities minister Rushanara Ali said St George's day was an opportunity to 'fight against the forces of division' that present the English identity as 'an exclusive identity, that is a white only identity'. Mr Rosindell intervened and asked: 'Would the Government consider St George's Day to become a public holiday in England?' Ms Ali replied that she could not 'respond with a positive answer right now'. She added: 'We must inspire the next generation to carry forward the best of England through education, opportunity and the belief that no matter who you are or where you come from, you belong and you can help shape this country's future.'
Belfast Telegraph
08-05-2025
- Politics
- Belfast Telegraph
English voters face ‘democratic deficit' without devolved parliament
Andrew Rosindell described himself as a 'strong supporter' of the UK Parliament in Westminster but told the Commons that English people suffer with a 'rather diminished democratic voice'. Unlike Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales, where some decisions are taken by lawmakers in Stormont, Holyrood and Cardiff Bay, England does not have a devolved national assembly. Mr Rosindell told MPs that after the devolution process in the late 1990s, 'for the first time in centuries, the unifying lynchpin of these islands – the crown in Parliament – seemed to have been wrenched out of place'.Speaking in a debate about English Affairs, the Conservative MP later added: 'What must in any case be acknowledged is that England, the most populous region with the biggest economy, is the only home nation not to have her own devolved parliament. 'This has created a democratic deficit in which the proud people of England, such as those in my constituency of Romford, Essex, are left with a rich cultural heritage, as I've outlined earlier, and without a fully developed but rather diminished democratic voice.' Father of the House Sir Edward Leigh, the Conservative MP for Gainsborough, urged Mr Rosindell to 'please spare us another parliament'. The Romford MP replied that he was a 'very strong supporter of this Parliament and of this United Kingdom', added he 'would have most certainly not voted to break up our United Kingdom in the way that we have done', and said he would 'love to see' the London Assembly abolished in the capital. Liberal Democrat Scotland spokeswoman Christine Jardine intervened and said: 'What we did was devolve some of the power closer to the people so that they felt more represented, not in an attempt to break up the country, but – as a member of the party who was instrumental with the Labour Party in achieving it – so that we held the country together but gave people the feeling of being closer to where decisions were made.' Mr Rosindell replied that he thought 'all members of Parliament should be equal and elected representatives should be equal, but if you make different types of elected representation at different levels, it obviously means that English MPs have a different role than Scottish MPs, because they have Members of the Scottish Parliament in Scotland, which have another role'. Labour MP Adam Jogee, who opened the debate, had earlier said: 'We must work to ensure that people across England, and indeed all those across the United Kingdom, continue to feel pride in our flag and in our communities, and feel hope for the future and respect for our past.' The Newcastle-under-Lyme MP added that 'any talk about love for flag and country must be matched by an investment in the people who make them what they are – investment in our national health service, in our education and employment support services, in our arts and culture, and in our villages, towns and cities'. Communities minister Rushanara Ali said St George's day was an opportunity to 'fight against the forces of division' that present the English identity as 'an exclusive identity, that is a white only identity'. Mr Rosindell intervened and asked: 'Would the Government consider St George's Day to become a public holiday in England?' Ms Ali replied that she could not 'respond with a positive answer right now'. She added: 'We must inspire the next generation to carry forward the best of England through education, opportunity and the belief that no matter who you are or where you come from, you belong and you can help shape this country's future.'
Yahoo
04-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
UK government confirms Liberation Day plans
The UK government has confirmed plans to mark Liberation Day as part of its VE Day commemorations. It will include a special reception in Parliament and a visit to Jersey and Sark by Minister for Sport, Media, Civil Society and Youth, Stephanie Peacock. Flags from the Channel Islands will also be flown from the Ministry of Justice and in Parliament Square. It comes after Conservative MP Andrew Rosindell raised the lack of published plans to include the Channel Islands in Parliament. Events will begin with a special reception in Parliament on 6 May. It will be hosted by the Speaker of the House of Commons, Sir Lindsay Hoyle, on behalf of the governments of Jersey and Guernsey, with UK ministers expected to attend. Peacock will then travel to Jersey and Sark on 9 and 10 May to participate in the Liberation celebrations. She will be joined by Lord Ponsonby of Shulbrede, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State in the Ministry of Justice, who has responsibility for the UK's constitutional relationship with the Channel Islands. Flags of all the Crown Dependencies will be flown from the top of the Ministry of Justice building and in Parliament Square. Channel Islands may join 80th VE Day celebrations Flypast and concert for VE Day 80th commemorations
BBC News
04-05-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
UK government confirms Liberation Day plans for Channel Islands
The UK government has confirmed plans to mark Liberation Day as part of its VE Day commemorations. It will include a special reception in Parliament and a visit to Jersey and Sark by Minister for Sport, Media, Civil Society and Youth, Stephanie from the Channel Islands will also be flown from the Ministry of Justice and in Parliament comes after Conservative MP Andrew Rosindell raised the lack of published plans to include the Channel Islands in Parliament. Events will begin with a special reception in Parliament on 6 May. It will be hosted by the Speaker of the House of Commons, Sir Lindsay Hoyle, on behalf of the governments of Jersey and Guernsey, with UK ministers expected to attend. Peacock will then travel to Jersey and Sark on 9 and 10 May to participate in the Liberation will be joined by Lord Ponsonby of Shulbrede, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State in the Ministry of Justice, who has responsibility for the UK's constitutional relationship with the Channel Islands. Flags of all the Crown Dependencies will be flown from the top of the Ministry of Justice building and in Parliament Square.
